Guess who is accompanying state Sen. Dale Risinger this weekend?

Risinger, 67, and Ardis, 52, will travel to Princeton together for a Lincoln Day dinner on Saturday night.

Risinger said people shouldn’t look anything into it. He’s not officially endorsing anyone as his replacement at this point, but he said Ardis would make a good senator.

“I’m not going to throw anyone under the bus saying I’m for one or the other at this stage,” Risinger said.

Still, Risinger said it’s a good opportunity for people in Princeton to meet Ardis, who as Peoria’s mayor, probably isn’t all that well known in Bureau County.

“The reason I’m doing this is the mayor is not as well know there and this is a chance for people to meet him,” Risinger said. “He is one of the viable candidates.”

Risinger stressed, though, that he’s taken attorney Darin LaHood — another “viable” candidate for Risinger’s 37th District Senate seat — to other political functions in the past.

“I don’t think you need to read too much into (accompany Ardis to Princeton),” Risinger said. “I do think he would make a good senator. But all three (Ardis, LaHood and state Rep. Dan Moffitt, R-Gilson) are all very capable.”

Ardis, following an education forum at City Hall this morning, said he will speak about the importance of getting the General Assembly to support changes to the pension amortization schedule to allow municipalits, like Peoria, more spending flexibility.

Risinger will officially resign on Feb. 28. The Republican Party chairmen in the 37th district are in charge of appointing his successor.